Djokovic starts Open defence with easy victory

Sam Lienert

Novak Djokovic's bid for an unprecedented third straight Australian Open title started sweetly with a straight sets win over Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu at Melbourne Park on Monday.

The world No.1, seeking to claim his fourth Open title and become the first man in the professional era to claim a hat-trick of them, won 6-2 6-4 7-5 against the world No.60.

It took the champion Serb's winning streak at Melbourne Park to 15 matches and his overall Australian Open win-loss record to 33-5.

Victor ... Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic. Photo: Getty Images

His previous match in Rod Laver Arena was last year's five-set thriller against Rafael Nadal, in which Djokovic needed a fraction less than six hours to triumph.

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On Monday he took well under two hours to beat Mathieu, showing impressive mobility and shot-making when required without being stretched too hard.

"It's great to be back in Australia playing on this court," Djokovic said.

"This is by far the most successful court I have played on in my grand slam career, I have great memories of 12 months ago."

The Serb will meet young American hope Ryan Harrison in the second round, after the 20-year-old beat Colombian Santiago Giraldo 2-6 6-4 7-5 6-4 on Monday.

Other men's winners on the first day included consistent Czezh fifth seed Tomas Berdych, a quarter-finalist in each of the past two years, who powered his way past perennial grand slam victim Michael Russell 6-3 7-5 6-3.

Russell, a 34-year-old American journeyman, made it 22 first-round losses at a major in 27 attempts.